Patch Candidate Profile: Charley Marenghi For Naugatuck Board Of Mayor And Burgesses

NAUGATUCK, CT — Election Day on Nov. 4 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot.

Patch reached out to candidates for office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing their towns.

Candidate's Name:

Charley Marenghi

What office are you seeking?

Burgess, Naugatuck Board of Mayor and Burgesses

What town do you live in?

Naugatuck, Connecticut

Campaign Website

Party Affiliation:

Democrat

Occupation:

Professional Educator, Naugatuck Board of Education Since 1998

Family:

Married to Gayle “Raczkowski” Marenghi since 1992. I have four children, Stephanie (25), Charles (23), Gwendolyn (17), and Gregory (15).

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Yes, both my wife and I are employed by the Naugatuck Board of Education. My son, Charles, is also a public school teacher in Bethel, Connecticut.

Previous public office, appointive or elective:

I am a three term incumbent member of Board of Mayor and Burgesses of Naugatuck 2019-Present. Before that, I served on several commissions and committees as an appointed member. They included school space needs, long-term school facilities planning, Naugatuck High School "Renovate to New" building committee; Mt Auburn Economic needs Study, Naugatuck Arts Commission, and Naugatuck Economic Commission. I also served two terms as a "Selectman" of Naugatuck (elected office no longer exist via 2011 Charter Change).

Why are you seeking this office?

I am seeking re-election so that I may continue to serve the community that I love. If elected to a third term I will continue to work with Mayor Hess to see the many projects and initiatives we have started together come to fruition. As a Burgess, I will continue to work and serve a Naugatuck community that values its history, embraces its role in an ever-changing world economy, and provides opportunities to all of its citizens for a better quality of life.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:

When speaking to constituents the most pressing issue that is revealed is that of the tax burden that we all must endure. After decades of budgetary strife and periods of poor economic development, we have now begun the process of building an economic foundation that will endure and bring about real long-term tax relief.

If re-elected; I will continue to support the development of our third industrial park on the former Naugatuck Chemical property, building mixed use residential/business property on parcels A and B, transfiguring our downtown into a thriving "Transportation oriented district" that taps into the rail transit and natural assets that we have, and the revitalization of the Rubber Avenue business corridor. I will continue to support forward looking long-range economic development that builds a secure environment for sustainable and meaningful growth. In addition, I will also continue to work with our finance board and department heads to construct budgets that balance the vital services of our borough with fiscal integrity and responsible frugality that protects our taxpayers. Only through real and sustainable "Smart Growth" like the projects I have sighted will we establish a local economy that will thrive and provide authentic tax relief. Authentic long-term tax relief via authentic "Long game" thinking and policies are what I will continue to work for and support.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I feel that I bring a solid range of experiences from both my personal and political life that grants me a well rounded capacity to serve. In my six years of serving my community as a burgess, I have gained the needed experience to better serve my community. As a burgess, I worked with Mayor Hess and other community leaders to vet the developers that will help bring mixed-use development to our former industrial downtown properties. In addition, as an incumbent burgess I have been part of the bi-partisan efforts to make the former Naugatuck Chemical Property a viable revenue generating third industrial park. Serving on the TIF (Tax Increment Finance) committee I have had the privilege of working with a diverse group of community members to oversee the process where increasing property tax revenue is used to fund public infrastructure improvements and development within the areas including the Downtown Naugatuck business district, Rubber Avenue business corridor, and our new “Third” industrial park.

My experience from before being elected as a burgess gives me the necessary skills to serve as well. Before being elected to the board, I served on the "Renovate to New" building committee that oversaw the 81 million dollar Naugatuck High School project. This project vastly improved our school facilities and came in under budget. In addition to that, I served as chairperson of the Howard Whittemore Memorial Library for over a decade. In that capacity I handled personnel, budgeting, and capital issues that were in many ways similar to issues brought before the borough board on a regular basis.

In addition, I have served as a volunteer with Union City Little League as a coach, player agent, board member, and umpire for 15 years. I continue to serve as volunteer Boy Scout leader with troop 102, Naugatuck. I’ve had the privilege to have served as a Girl Scout leader as well. I am an active and devout member of the Naugatuck United Methodists Church even serving as a lay speaker when called upon. As a parent volunteer I have worked as an assistant coach for Naugatuck Flag Football and the Cross Street School PTO.

I have proven in my both elected office life and life as a private citizen that I am committed to serve my community. If re-elected I will continue to make it my mission to build a Naugatuck community that still values its history, embraces its role in an ever changing world economy, and provides opportunities to all of its citizens for a better quality of life.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

All issues that lend themselves to quality of life in our borough are the issues that I feel do not get the public attention that they deserve. As a member of the Board of Mayor and Burgesses the last three terms I have worked with my colleagues to address a wide range of issues that pertain to the quality of life we enjoy in Naugatuck. Restructuring our debt to generate enough money to pay for our new skate park and the forthcoming “Splash-pad” while also lowering our interest rate on existing debt is one example of how solid, fact based, and bipartisan decision-making can improve the quality of life in town.

In addition, responsible budgeting practices of the last six years has put our borough in a position where we are no longer labeled as a "distressed" community. By working with our department heads and finance board in practicing intelligent and austere budgeting, we have strengthened our town's fund balance (reserves) to meet modern best practices. This will improve our overall bond rating. An improved bond rating will give us the ability to secure the necessary funding to continue to improve our parks, roads, sidewalks, and borough facilities.

All of this, no matter how mundane it seems, affects the quality of life for all that live in our community. If elected to another term I will continue to work with our mayor and other burgesses to make the types of decisions that better the quality of life for all.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Many folks may already know me from my work as a teacher, youth sports coach, musician, and community volunteer. Then you know who I am and how I do things. If you don't know me, let me share a few things with you. As an arts commissioner/chairperson I helped found two performing arts groups (Naugatuck Community Choir and Band). In addition, I also planned summer events such as the summer music concerts on the green and the arts festival. As a member of the Naugatuck Economic Development Commission I was involved in the vetting and approval of several new businesses in our industrial park. As a member/chairperson of the Howard Whittemore Memorial Library Board of Trustees I helped to craft balanced budgets of more than a half million dollars each year. Most of those budgets were zero increase budgets that still were able to maintain and support a professional library that serves our community with distinction. In addition to running an efficient fiscal ship at the library I also oversaw several capital improvement projects including a roof replacement, historic rotunda restoration, and the planning phases of an upcoming renovation of our children's department. My work on several space needs and long term school planning committees has given me the insight as to the issues of facility inequity and conditions of our buildings. The work I have been a part of as a member of the NHS renovation building committee served as an educational experience as to the hurdles and hoops one must navigate when dealing with a massive $81 million building project.

My greatest experience that has prepared me to serve this community is the time I have had working with Naugatuck's citizens. Working with our town's youth as both a teacher and a volunteer coach/scout leader has given me invaluable insights into the needs of our younger people. Spending time with seniors at arts events and at my church has allowed me to tap into their wisdom and learn from their experiences. In these roles I have met with many citizens from diverse backgrounds. These people that I have worked with truly represent what Naugatuck is. When elected, these are the people of Naugatuck that I am committed to serve.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Always be willing to get involved and help others. I look to the words of John Wesley, "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can."

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

One parting thought, in local politics, when electing an official you are engaging in the most intimate form of democracy. This election, more than the state or national, has immediate implications on the streets we live on, the schools we send our children to, and the quality of life we live. It's not about Democrats or Republicans. It's about Naugatuck. It's about asking yourself, "Whom do I trust most to make the decisions on my behalf in town?"

To all the parents out there, I want them to see me as a fellow parent that has both younger and older children. I want them to understand that if they vote for me they are casting a vote for a person that shares their experiences and will bring that to the decision making table.

To all of my fellow taxpayers out there, I want them to understand that I am right there with them seeking out ways to lower taxes in a responsible way that does not compromise how the town provides essential services that enhance our quality of life. I want them to know that if they elect me as Burgess I will bring a frugal yet forward thinking mind to the budget crafting process.

To all of the hard working volunteers out there in Naugatuck, I want you to understand that I am one of you. If you vote for me I will continue to do everything in my power to assist you in providing the vital services. Remember, I understand that you work so hard as citizens of The Borough of Naugatuck and I'm there with you.

To everyone in Naugatuck, I want you to remember that if re-elected, I will continue to serve Naugatuck, to honor its past, enhance its present, and build its future.